EP3999245B1 - Device for capping a container of a liquid to pasty product, and refill closed by such a device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the field of devices for dispensing without air intake (also called “Airless” devices) a liquid to pasty product, in particular a cream, an ointment or a paste, in particular for cosmetic use.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for capping a container of such a product, comprising a cap for sealing the capping device and therefore the container in an airtight manner, the cap being able to be moved so as to provide access to the inside of the container. In particular, this movement can be implemented when mounting a product dispensing head on the container capped by this capping device. In an improved variant, the capping device is arranged so as to allow attachment with three elements at a time on this same capping device, at least one of these elements being mounted reversibly and at least one of these elements being mounted irreversibly.

In particular, these three elements may be a manual pump, in particular without air intake, a container, in particular without air intake and of variable and/or deformable volume, and a receptacle or shell in which the container is housed. In such a case, at least the container is irreversibly mounted on the capping device, and at least the container is reversibly mounted on the capping device.

In this application, the term reversible assembly means an assembly which can be dismantled in the same way as it was assembled, without breaking any elements, in particular with the same tool as for assembly or without a tool, preferably with the same energy.

There are known in the state of the art dispensing devices with a dispensing head fixed on the neck of a container or receptacle, containing a liquid or cream. These heads may include manual pumps that suck the product into the container and then force it out. The container and the dispensing head are most often irreversibly fixed. As a result, when the dispensing device is empty, it is thrown away. This represents a certain amount of plastic. Prior art capping devices are described in WO 2016/210217 A1 And WO 2009/136877 A1 .

Today, in an effort to save materials and reduce plastic waste, more sustainable solutions are being sought.

Solutions using refills have been developed but often the distribution devices and their refills are complex structures to produce.

An aim of the present invention is therefore to find a distribution device of which at least certain parts can be reused, while remaining simple in design.

• une base de bouchage comprenant une paroi de bouchage présentant un conduit de communication traversant, ladite paroi de bouchage étant destinée à fermer l'ouverture d'un contenant d'un produit liquide à pâteux,
• un bouchon mobile dans le conduit de communication, entre une position de fermeture et une position d'ouverture,

dans lequel le bouchon comprend un fond et une cavité ouverte d'un côté de la paroi de bouchage et fermée par ledit fond, la cavité comprenant au moins une ouverture latérale, le bouchon étant agencé avec le conduit de communication de manière à ce que:

• en position de fermeture, ledit fond ferme de manière étanche le conduit de communication, et
• en position d'ouverture, le bouchon est partiellement hors du conduit de communication, ladite ou lesdites ouverture(s) latérale(s) et ledit fond étant hors du conduit de communication, de manière à ce que le conduit de communication soit ouvert en communication fluidique au travers du bouchon, le bouchon comportant une surface de poussée sur les bords de ladite cavité apte à recevoir en appui axial les bords d'une première ouverture d'un tube appartenant à un dispositif de distribution dans le sens de l'ouverture du bouchon, dans lequel la paroi de bouchage comprend un cône s'évasant à partir de l'ouverture du conduit de communication sur une première surface de la paroi de bouchage, le fond ainsi que ladite ou lesdites ouverture(s) latérale(s) du bouchon étant logés dans ce cône et à distance des parois de ce cône lorsque le bouchon est en position d'ouverture.

For this, a first object of the invention concerns a device for capping a container of a liquid to pasty product, said capping device comprising:

• a stopper base comprising a stopper wall having a through communication conduit, said stopper wall being intended to close the opening of a container of a liquid to pasty product,
• a movable plug in the communication duct, between a closed position and an open position,

wherein the plug comprises a bottom and a cavity open on one side of the plugging wall and closed by said bottom, the cavity comprising at least one lateral opening, the plug being arranged with the communication conduit so that:

• in the closed position, said bottom seals the communication conduit, and
• in the open position, the plug is partially outside the communication conduit, said lateral opening(s) and said bottom being outside the communication conduit, so that the communication conduit is open in fluid communication through the plug, the plug comprising a thrust surface on the edges of said cavity capable of receiving in axial support the edges of a first opening of a tube belonging to a distribution device in the direction of opening of the plug, in which the plugging wall comprises a cone widening from the opening of the communication conduit on a first surface of the stopper wall, the bottom and said lateral opening(s) of the stopper being housed in this cone and at a distance from the walls of this cone when the stopper is in the open position.

Thus, it is possible to close an opening of a product container, for example a product refill, by covering it with the closure wall, for example in sealed contact, in particular airtight, with the neck of this container. With the cap in the closed position and by fixing the closure device to the container so as to maintain this sealed contact, a container is thus obtained which is sealed.

When mounting a dispensing head, the cap can then be moved partially out of the conduit in the open position, thus ensuring communication between the dispensing head and the container through this cap. The communication through the cap is between the side opening(s) and the opening through which said cavity opens on one side of the capping wall. With a container with a variable and/or deformable volume, and a dispensing head without air intake, in particular a manual pump without air intake, mounted in a sealed manner on this capping device, this movement of the cap to the open position is carried out in an “Airless” manner, namely without air intake, and therefore without bringing the product into contact with the outside air.

The cap thus forms a hermetic closing device for the container, while allowing easy opening of the cap when mounting the dispensing head. Use is thus simplified, which is particularly useful for refills.

Furthermore, the cap thus forms a closure indicator, particularly useful in the context of refills displayed on a shelf, without a dispensing head, or in the event of delivery of a refill closed in this way by a subcontractor to a manufacturer of a dispensing device.

On the other hand, the capping device is very simple in design, since a simple wall with a through conduit and a cap with a side opening, for example in the shape of a cup with a side opening, are sufficient to produce a tight closure which can be opened when the container is mounted, for example the refill.

• le conduit de communication communique entre une première surface et une deuxième surface de la paroi de bouchage, ladite paroi de bouchage étant destinée à fermer l'ouverture du contenant d'un produit liquide à pâteux avec la première surface orientée vers l'intérieur du contenant, de sorte qu'en position de fermeture, ladite ou lesdites ouverture(s) latérale(s) et ledit fond sont dans le conduit de communication et qu'en position d'ouverture, ladite ou lesdites ouverture(s) latérale(s) et ledit fond sont hors du conduit de communication en étant du côté de ladite première surface ; ainsi le bouchon peut être entrainé de la position de fermeture à la position d'ouverture par simple enfoncement, par exemple lors du montage d'une tête de distribution du côté de la deuxième face ;
• le conduit de communication et/ou le bouchon comprennent au moins un organe déformable, agencé de manière à retenir le bouchon en position de fermeture jusqu'à un certain seuil de poussée exercée sur le bouchon vers la position d'ouverture ; cela sécurise davantage la fermeture ; cela renforce également le rôle de témoin d'ouverture dans le cas de recharges ;
• le conduit de communication et/ou le bouchon comprennent un organe de blocage du bouchon en position d'ouverture ; cela diminue le risque de délogement du bouchon hors du conduit de communication ;
• ledit organe déformable et/ou ledit organe de blocage sont agencés sur et/ou sont en prise sur la paroi interne du conduit de communication ; cela permet une réalisation très simple du dispositif de bouchage ;
• la paroi de bouchage présente une première surface et une deuxième surface à l'opposé de cette première surface, et comprend une interface de fixation irréversible qui est :
  • * destinée à se fixer sur le col d'un contenant d'un produit liquide à pâteux,
  • * agencée du côté de ladite première surface, et
  • * agencée autour d'une zone où débouche le conduit de communication sur cette dite première surface ;
  le réservoir de produit est ainsi monté de manière irréversible sur la paroi de bouchage ; dans le cadre d'une recharge, on assure la garantie que celle-ci n'a pas été ouverte ; par exemple, l'interface de fixation irréversible comprend au moins un clip irréversible, notamment un clip annulaire ; il s'agit avec ce ou ces clips irréversibles d'un système de montage impossible à séparer pour un utilisateur ;
• la paroi de bouchage présente une première surface et une deuxième surface à l'opposé de cette première surface, et la base de bouchage comprend une interface de montage réversible ou irréversible qui est :
  • * destinée à se monter sur une tête de distribution,
  • * agencée du côté de ladite deuxième surface, et
  • * agencée autour d'une zone où débouche le conduit de communication sur cette deuxième surface ;
  on ajoute ainsi une fonctionnalité au dispositif de bouchage, facilitant ainsi son assemblage ;
• la paroi de bouchage présente une première surface et une deuxième surface à l'opposé de cette première surface, la première surface étant destinée à être orientée vers l'intérieur du contenant, et la base de bouchage comprend une interface de montage réversible qui est :
  • * destinée à se monter sur le col d'un récipient,
  • * agencée d'un côté de ladite première surface, et
  • * agencée autour de l'interface de fixation ;
  ainsi, il est possible de récupérer le récipient pour y monter un autre dispositif de bouchage ;
• le dispositif de bouchage peut comprendre les caractéristiques des deux alinéas précédents réunis; dans un tel cas, le dispositif de bouchage forme une interface de jonction entre ce récipient et cette tête de distribution, simplifiant ainsi l'assemblage et le désassemblage, notamment d'une recharge sur la tête de distribution et sur le récipient ;
• le dispositif de bouchage peut comprendre les caractéristiques des quatre alinéas précédents réunis ; on a ainsi une interface commune pour la tête de distribution, le contenant et le récipient ; cela simplifie l'assemblage d'un dispositif de distribution correspondant, en particulier dans le cadre de recharges ;
• ladite première interface de montage est réversible ; ainsi, il est possible de récupérer la tête de distribution pour y monter un autre dispositif de bouchage ;
• ladite première interface de montage est irréversible ; ainsi, il est impossible de récupérer la tête de distribution, qui devient alors partie intégrante d'une recharge indissociable par l'utilisateur ; en revanche, un autre élément monté au dispositif de bouchage de manière réversible pourra être récupéré ; par ailleurs, cela permet de réaliser le remplissage par un sous-traitant, d'envoyer une recharge avec le contenant scellé par le dispositif de bouchage à un fabriquant de dispositif de distribution, qui pourra assembler simplement la tête de distribution à la recharge de manière irréversible, notamment en rendant seulement possible la récupération d'un autre élément monté sur la recharge, tel qu'un récipient entourant le contenant, notamment, un récipient tel que mentionné dans cette demande ;
• la, l'une ou les interfaces de montage réversible sont des interfaces de montage manuel et permettant donc un démontage manuel ; par manuel on entend sans outil ; cela permet un montage et un démontage facile par l'utilisateur sur le dispositif de bouchage ;
• la, l'une ou les interfaces de montage réversible sont des filetages ou des clips réversibles ; il s'agit de système de montage aisés à mettre en œuvre pour un utilisateur ;
• la paroi de bouchage comprend une interface de fixation, notamment irréversible, destinée à se fixer sur le col d'un contenant d'un produit liquide à pâteux et agencée d'un côté d'une première surface de la paroi de bouchage et autour d'une zone où débouche le conduit de communication sur cette première surface ; cela permet de fixer un contenant rempli de produit et former ainsi une recharge ;
• selon l'alinéa précédent, le dispositif de bouchage peut comprendre également l'interface de montage réversible destinée à se monter sur le col d'un récipient, évoquée précédemment, cette interface de montage-ci étant agencée autour de l'interface de fixation ; le récipient forme ainsi un coque de protection du contenant ainsi qu'un moyen de préhension ; par ailleurs, cette coque peut être plus facilement aménagée de manière esthétique ;
• le dispositif de bouchage ne comprend que deux pièces monoblocs assemblées, à savoir le bouchon et la base de bouchage, cette dernière comprenant la paroi de bouchage et formant le reste du dispositif de bouchage ; le dispositif de bouchage est ainsi très simple de réalisation ; notamment lorsqu'elle en est équipée, la base de bouchage comprend la ou les interfaces de montage et l'interface de fixation.

The plugging device according to the invention may optionally have one or more of the following characteristics taken separately or in combination:

• the communication duct communicates between a first surface and a second surface of the closure wall, said closure wall being intended to close the opening of the container of a liquid to pasty product with the first surface oriented towards the inside of the container, such that in the closed position, said lateral opening(s) and said bottom are in the communication duct and that in the open position, said lateral opening(s) and said bottom are outside the communication duct by being on the side of said first surface; thus the cap can be driven from the closed position to the open position by simple pressing, for example when mounting a dispensing head on the side of the second face;
• the communication conduit and/or the cap comprise at least one deformable member, arranged so as to retain the cap in the closed position up to a certain threshold of thrust exerted on the cap towards the open position; this further secures the closure; this also reinforces the role of opening indicator in the case of refills;
• the communication conduit and/or the plug include a member for blocking the plug in the open position; this reduces the risk of the plug being dislodged from the communication conduit;
• said deformable member and/or said blocking member are arranged on and/or are engaged on the internal wall of the communication conduit; this allows very simple production of the plugging device;
• the plugging wall has a first surface and a second surface opposite this first surface, and comprises an irreversible fixing interface which is:
  • * intended to be fixed on the neck of a container of a liquid to pasty product,
  • * arranged on the side of said first surface, and
  • * arranged around an area where the communication conduit opens onto this said first surface;
  the product tank is thus irreversibly mounted on the wall of capping; in the context of a refill, it is ensured that it has not been opened; for example, the irreversible fixing interface comprises at least one irreversible clip, in particular an annular clip; with this or these irreversible clips, it is a mounting system that is impossible for a user to separate;
• the plug wall has a first surface and a second surface opposite this first surface, and the plug base comprises a reversible or irreversible mounting interface which is:
  • * intended to be mounted on a distribution head,
  • * arranged on the side of said second surface, and
  • * arranged around an area where the communication conduit opens onto this second surface;
  This adds functionality to the closure device, making it easier to assemble;
• the capping wall has a first surface and a second surface opposite this first surface, the first surface being intended to be oriented towards the inside of the container, and the capping base comprises a reversible mounting interface which is:
  • * intended to be mounted on the neck of a container,
  • * arranged on one side of said first surface, and
  • * arranged around the fixing interface;
  thus, it is possible to recover the container to mount another closure device;
• the capping device may comprise the characteristics of the two preceding paragraphs combined; in such a case, the capping device forms a junction interface between this container and this dispensing head, thus simplifying assembly and disassembly, in particular of a refill on the dispensing head and on the container;
• the capping device may comprise the features of the four preceding paragraphs combined; there is thus a common interface for the dispensing head, the container and the receptacle; this simplifies the assembly of a corresponding dispensing device, in particular in the context of refills;
• said first mounting interface is reversible; thus, it is possible to recover the distribution head to mount another plugging device;
• said first mounting interface is irreversible; thus, it is impossible to recover the dispensing head, which then becomes an integral part of a refill that cannot be separated by the user; on the other hand, another element mounted on the capping device in a reversible manner may be recovered; furthermore, this allows the filling to be carried out by a subcontractor, to send a refill with the container sealed by the capping device to a dispensing device manufacturer, who can simply assemble the dispensing head to the refill in an irreversible manner, in particular by only making it possible to recover another element mounted on the refill, such as a container surrounding the container, in particular, a container as mentioned in this application;
• the, one or more of the reversible mounting interfaces are manual mounting interfaces and therefore allow manual disassembly; by manual is meant without tools; this allows easy assembly and disassembly by the user on the capping device;
• the, one or more reversible mounting interfaces are reversible threads or clips; these are mounting systems that are easy for a user to implement;
• the closure wall comprises a fixing interface, in particular irreversible, intended to be fixed on the neck of a container of a liquid to pasty product and arranged on one side of a first surface of the closure wall and around an area where the communication conduit opens onto this first surface; this makes it possible to fix a container filled with product and thus form a refill;
• according to the preceding paragraph, the capping device may also comprise the reversible mounting interface intended to be mounted on the neck of a container, mentioned above, this mounting interface being arranged around the fixing interface; the container thus forms a protective shell for the container as well as a means of gripping; moreover, this shell can be more easily arranged in an aesthetic manner;
• the capping device comprises only two assembled single-piece parts, namely the stopper and the capping base, the latter comprising the capping wall and forming the remainder of the capping device; the capping device is thus very simple to produce; in particular when it is equipped with it, the capping base comprises the mounting interface(s) and the fixing interface.

• un contenant d'un produit liquide à pâteux, présentant un col avec une ouverture de contenant,
• un dispositif de bouchage selon l'invention, monté sur le col du contenant de manière à ce que, lorsque le bouchon est en position de fermeture, ladite paroi de bouchage ferme ladite ouverture de contenant de manière étanche.

Another object of the invention is a refill of a liquid to pasty product intended to be mounted on a dispensing head and comprising:

• a container of a liquid to pasty product, having a neck with a container opening,
• a capping device according to the invention, mounted on the neck of the container so that, when the cap is in the closed position, said capping wall closes said container opening in a sealed manner.

This refill is simple in design. The capping device ensures its closure and makes it ready for use as soon as it is mounted.

When the various mounting interface options are present, the use of this refill is greatly simplified.

• le contenant est une poche souple ; c'est une forme simple de réalisation, particulièrement utile dans le cas d'une recharge ;
• la recharge comprend une cage de protection fixée au dispositif de bouchage, le contenant étant logé à l'intérieur de ladite cage; cela facilite l'insertion du contenant de la recharge dans un récipient, notamment récupérable ;
• le col du contenant comprend un rebord annulaire autour de l'ouverture du contenant et saillant radialement, la cage comprenant une entrée d'insertion du contenant, les bords de l'entrée d'insertion prenant en étau le rebord annulaire contre la paroi de bouchage, assurant ainsi l'étanchéité entre cette dernière et le contenant ; l'étanchéité est réalisée sans pièce supplémentaire ;
• la recharge ne comprend que quatre pièces assemblées : la base de bouchage, le bouchon, la poche et la cage.

The refill according to the invention may optionally have one or more of the following characteristics taken separately or in combination:

• the container is a flexible pouch; it is a simple form of construction, particularly useful in the case of a refill;
• the refill comprises a protective cage fixed to the capping device, the container being housed inside said cage; this facilitates the insertion of the container of the refill into a receptacle, in particular a recoverable one;
• the neck of the container comprises an annular rim around the opening of the container and projecting radially, the cage comprising an insertion inlet of the container, the edges of the insertion inlet gripping the annular rim against the stopper wall, thus ensuring a seal between the latter and the container; the seal is achieved without any additional part;
• The refill consists of only four assembled parts: the stopper base, the cap, the pouch and the cage.

It should be noted that the refill according to the invention can be used to refill a product dispensing device, to replace an exhausted refill, or as an initial assembly to a dispensing head. The assembly to the latter can be reversible or irreversible, in the latter case a recoverable container being mounted around the container.

• une recharge selon l'invention, le contenant étant monté du côté d'une première surface de la paroi de bouchage,
• une tête de distribution montée de l'autre côté de la paroi de bouchage et connectée en fluide au conduit de communication, le bouchon étant en position d'ouverture.

Another object of the invention is a device for dispensing, in particular without air intake, a liquid to pasty product comprising:

• a refill according to the invention, the container being mounted on the side of a first surface of the stopper wall,
• a dispensing head mounted on the other side of the stopper wall and fluidly connected to the communication conduit, the stopper being in the open position.

This dispensing device is thus ready to be used or assembled to a container, as mentioned previously.

In the case where the dispensing head is mounted in a reversible manner, it can be kept, the refill being changed when there is no more product.

Furthermore, the design and assembly of the refill with the dispensing head is simple.

When the various mounting interface options are present, this mounting is further simplified.

• la tête de distribution comprend :
  • * un tube inséré dans ledit conduit de communication, avec un contact étanche entre la paroi externe du tube et la paroi interne du conduit de communication, le tube étant en appui axial contre une surface de poussée dudit bouchon et dans le sens de l'ouverture de ce bouchon, le tube présentant une première ouverture en communication fluidique avec ladite cavité et la ou les ouvertures latérales,
  • * un orifice de distribution du produit hors du dispositif de distribution en communication fluidique avec une deuxième ouverture du tube ; ce tube permet lors du montage de la recharge de pousser le bouchon jusqu'à sa position d'ouverture ; ainsi par le simple montage de la tête de distribution avec la recharge, on réalise l'ouverture du bouchon et la mise en communication en produit de la tête de distribution et dudit contenant ;
• la première ouverture du tube est à une extrémité du tube, les bords de cette première ouverture étant en appui contre les bords de ladite cavité, qui forment ainsi la surface de poussée ; ladite mise en communication en synergie avec l'ouverture est améliorée ;
• la tête de distribution comprend une base de tête, le tube étant saillant depuis une surface externe de cette base de tête et vers le bouchon, le tube ayant une longueur sensiblement égale à la distance entre ladite position de fermeture et ladite position d'ouverture ; cela permet de fermer le conduit de communication avec cette base de tête ;
• le dispositif de distribution comprend un récipient monté, notamment de manière réversible, sur la base de bouchage du côté de la recharge, la recharge étant agencée à l'intérieur du récipient ; ce récipient peut être récupéré lorsque la recharge est épuisée ;
• le récipient comprend au moins une portion au travers de laquelle on peut voir le contenant, ce dernier étant déformable et/ou au moins translucide, de manière à ce que l'on puisse voir son état de remplissage ;
• le récipient est en verre ;
• le récipient est en polymère.

The dispensing device according to the invention may optionally have one or more of the following characteristics taken separately or in combination:

• The distribution head includes:
  • * a tube inserted into said communication conduit, with a sealed contact between the external wall of the tube and the internal wall of the communication conduit communication, the tube being in axial support against a thrust surface of said plug and in the direction of opening of this plug, the tube having a first opening in fluid communication with said cavity and the lateral opening(s),
  • * a product dispensing orifice outside the dispensing device in fluid communication with a second opening of the tube; this tube allows, when mounting the refill, the cap to be pushed to its open position; thus, by simply mounting the dispensing head with the refill, the cap is opened and the product is put into communication between the dispensing head and said container;
• the first opening of the tube is at one end of the tube, the edges of this first opening being in abutment against the edges of said cavity, which thus form the thrust surface; said communication in synergy with the opening is improved;
• the dispensing head comprises a head base, the tube projecting from an external surface of this head base and towards the cap, the tube having a length substantially equal to the distance between said closed position and said open position; this makes it possible to close the communication conduit with this head base;
• the dispensing device comprises a container mounted, in particular reversibly, on the stopper base on the refill side, the refill being arranged inside the container; this container can be recovered when the refill is exhausted;
• the container comprises at least one portion through which the container can be seen, the latter being deformable and/or at least translucent, so that its state of filling can be seen;
• the container is made of glass;
• the container is made of polymer.

In the present application, the terms "top", "bottom", "lower", "upper", "above", "below", refer, unless otherwise indicated, to the orientation of the closure wall positioned horizontally, surface intended to be facing the product oriented downwards, which corresponds, in the examples illustrated by the attached drawings, with orientations according to the figures 5 And 6 .

• [Fig. 1] : La figure 1 représente une vue en perspective de dessus d'un dispositif de bouchage selon un exemple de réalisation de l'invention ;
• [Fig. 2] La figure 2 représente une vue en perspective de dessous du dispositif de bouchage de la figure 1 ;
• [Fig. 3] La figure 3 représente une vue en perspective de côté du bouchon du dispositif de bouchage de la figure 1 ;
• [Fig. 4] La figure 4 représente une vue éclatée d'une recharge selon un exemple de réalisation de l'invention, comprenant le dispositif de bouchage de la figure 1 ;
• [Fig. 5] La figure 5 représente une coupe axiale de la recharge de la figure 4, avant montage dans un dispositif de distribution ;
• [Fig. 6] La figure 6 représente une vue en coupe selon le même plan que la figure 5 d'un dispositif de distribution selon un exemple de réalisation de l'invention, comprenant la recharge de la figure 5 ;
• [Fig. 7] La figure 7 représente le dispositif de distribution de la figure 6 selon une vue en perspective de côté, mais sans le capuchon de protection.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description of the non-limiting examples which follow, for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings, among which:

• [ Fig. 1 ] : There figure 1 represents a perspective view from above of a plugging device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;
• [ Fig. 2 ] There figure 2 represents a perspective view from below of the plugging device of the figure 1 ;
• [ Fig. 3 ] There figure 3 represents a side perspective view of the cap of the capping device of the figure 1 ;
• [ Fig. 4 ] There figure 4 represents an exploded view of a refill according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, comprising the device for capping the figure 1 ;
• [ Fig. 5 ] There figure 5 represents an axial section of the recharge of the figure 4 , before assembly in a distribution device;
• [ Fig. 6 ] There figure 6 represents a sectional view along the same plane as the figure 5 of a dispensing device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, comprising the recharging of the figure 5 ;
• [ Fig. 7 ] There figure 7 represents the distribution device of the figure 6 according to a side perspective view, but without the protective cap.

THE figures 1 And 2 illustrate a capping device 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. This capping device 1 is intended to capping a container of a liquid to pasty product, for example a cream or an ointment.

This capping device 1 comprises a capping base 2 and a stopper 3. As here, the capping base 2 and the stopper 3 may each be a single piece. In this example, the capping device 1 consists of a capping base 2 and a stopper 3.

The stopper base 2 comprises a stopper wall 10, here forming a horizontal lower wall of the stopper base 2.

A communication duct 13 passes through the blocking wall 10 from one side to the other, thus ensuring communication on either side of this blocking wall 10. Thus the communication duct 13 comprises two openings between which it extends: a communication opening 16a, here low, located on the side of a first surface 11 of the blocking wall 10, and a communication opening 16b, here high, located on the other side, namely a second surface 12 of the blocking wall 10, here located at the top.

The plug 3 is arranged with the communication conduit 13 in a movable manner between a closed position and an open position. figures 1 And 2 , it is shown in the opening position.

Cap 3 is illustrated in more detail in figure 3 .

As in this example, the stopper 3 can form a cup having a cavity 31 open upwards, therefore open on the side of the second surface 12 of the stopper wall 10 via a main opening 36. The cavity 31 is closed at the bottom by a base 30 and delimited on the sides by a cylindrical wall 35. The cavity 31 has, here, two lateral openings 32 facing each other.

The plug 3 may, as here, have a deformable member 33. The latter is, for example, a peripheral bead 33 arranged in a projecting manner on the external surface of said cylindrical wall 35. It thus forms a friction member making it possible to retain the plug 3 in the communication conduit 13, thus being engaged on the internal wall 14 of the communication conduit 13.

In this example, the deformable member 33 has two functions: both to provide a certain resistance to opening to the cap 3, when it is in the closed position, and to form a member for blocking the cap 3 in the open position.

Said deformable member 33 can be arranged at the very top of the cylindrical wall 35, thus allowing the plug 3 to descend as far as possible, leaving the greater part of the plug outside the communication conduit 13, in particular, as here, so as to completely remove the lateral openings 32 from the communication conduit 13.

As here, the peripheral bead 33 can go around the cylindrical wall 35, thus also ensuring a sealing function with the internal wall 14 of the communication duct 13.

Here, the internal wall 14 of the communication duct 13 is smooth. In a variant not shown, it could however have an upper annular groove and/or a lower annular groove, arranged so as to receive the peripheral bead 33, the upper annular groove allowing blocking in the closed position and the lower annular groove allowing blocking in the open position.

According to the invention, as here, the plug may have a lower projection 34, extending around the cylindrical wall 35 and radially outwards. It is arranged so as to come into contact with the edge of the lower communication opening 16a of the communication duct 13, when the plug is in the closed position. Thus, this projection 34 on the one hand reinforces the sealing of the closure of the communication duct 13 and, on the other hand, forms an end-of-travel stop in the closed position.

As here, the blocking wall 10 may comprise a cone 17 widening from the lower communication opening 16a.

In the open position, the bottom 30 and the side openings 32 are clear at the bottom and outside the communication duct 13 but are housed in this cone 17, as can be seen in figure 2 . Thus, the bottom 30 and the side openings 32 are distant from the walls of this cone 17, thus leaving a passage under the blocking wall 10 going from a low opening 18 of the cone, then through the side openings 32, then into the cavity 31 and finally to said main opening 36.

The projection 34 may be of a complementary shape to said first surface 11, thus reinforcing the seal in the closed position. For example, as here, it may be frustoconical so as to be adjusted with the cone 17 in the closed position.

The plugging base 2 comprises on the side of said second surface 12 a first mounting interface 20, here reversible, which comprises an upper skirt 21 extending upwards and having an external surface provided with a reversible mounting element, here a thread 22. The upper skirt 21 is arranged around the communication duct 13 and its upper communication opening 16b, therefore around an area where the communication duct 13 opens onto this second surface 12.

• une interface de fixation 23 irréversible agencée autour du cône 17 et de l'ouverture de communication basse 16a,
• une deuxième interface de montage 27 réversible agencée autour de l'interface de fixation.

On the other side of the plugging wall 10, namely on said first surface 11, the plugging base 2 comprises two other interfaces:

• an irreversible fixing interface 23 arranged around the cone 17 and the lower communication opening 16a,
• a second reversible mounting interface 27 arranged around the fixing interface.

According to the invention, as here, the second mounting interface 27 may comprise a mounting groove 28, delimited between a lower skirt 29 and a first barrel 19. The internal surface of the lower skirt 29 may, as here, comprise a thread 29'.

According to the invention, as here, the fixing interface 23 can comprise a fixing groove 24, delimited between the first barrel 19 and a second barrel 26. The surface of the first barrel 19 inside the fixing groove 24 can, as here, comprise an annular bead 25, here forming an irreversible clip.

As here, the lower skirt 29, the first barrel 19 and the second barrel 26 can be arranged concentrically and in this order from the outside towards the lower communication opening 16a.

The stopper base 2 can for example be made of polypropylene and the stopper of high density polyethylene (HDPE).

THE figures 4 And 5 illustrate an example of refill 4 of a liquid to pasty product according to the invention.

• un contenant d'un produit liquide à pâteux, ici une poche 7,
• le dispositif de bouchage 1 monté sur le col de la poche 7.

This 4-pack recharge includes:

• a container of a liquid to pasty product, here a bag 7,
• the stopper device 1 mounted on the neck of the bag 7.

As can be seen in figure 5 , before use, the cap 3 is in the closed position and seals the communication conduit 13. Indeed, the bottom 30 closes the communication conduit 13. As a result, once the capping device 1 is mounted on the neck of the container, the capping wall 10 seals the container opening 40. The refill 4 is thus a refill suitable for a dispensing device without air intake, also called the “airless” type.

The side openings in the embodiment of the stopper 3 in a bucket are above the bottom 30, for example, as here, inside the communication conduit 13.

The projection 34 is here adjusted against the inner surface of the cone 17.

The deformation of the deformable member 33 is such that the cap 3 is held in the closed position, up to a certain threshold of thrust exerted on the cap 3 towards the open position. The closure of the refill 4 is thus secured.

• une paroi latérale supérieure rigide 41,
• une paroi latérale inférieure 42 souple, déformable et dans la continuité vers le bas de ladite paroi latérale supérieure 41, notamment de diamètre intérieur proche ou identique à celui de ladite paroi latérale supérieure 41,
• une première articulation 44 entre ladite paroi latérale supérieure 41 et ladite paroi latérale inférieure 42,
• une paroi de fond 43 rigide et de diamètre inférieur au diamètre interne desdites parois latérales 41, 42,
• une deuxième articulation 46 entre ladite paroi latérale inférieure 42 et la paroi de fond 43.

Pocket 7 can, as here, be broken down into four zones formed by:

• a rigid upper side wall 41,
• a lower side wall 42 which is flexible, deformable and in continuity towards the bottom of said upper side wall 41, in particular with an internal diameter close to or identical to that of said upper side wall 41,
• a first articulation 44 between said upper side wall 41 and said lower side wall 42,
• a rigid bottom wall 43 with a diameter smaller than the internal diameter of said side walls 41, 42,
• a second articulation 46 between said lower side wall 42 and the bottom wall 43.

Once mounted in a distribution device, such as that of the figure 6 , in such a pocket 7, when it is subjected to a depression, during the dispensing of the product, the bottom wall 43 is driven towards the opening 40 of the pocket 7, with the second articulation 46, causing the second articulation 46 and said lower side wall 42 to turn over on themselves. Thus, the bottom wall rises inside the pocket 7 towards the opening 40 of the pocket 7, like a piston to expel the product contained therein.

In particular, this pocket 7 works like the one described in the document WO2013153297A1 .

The neck of the pocket 7 comprises a free peripheral end, which may, as here, comprise an annular rim 45 delimiting the opening 40 of the pocket 7 and projecting radially towards the outside of said upper lateral part 41.

As here, the refill 4 may comprise a protective cage 8 fixed to the capping device 1. The pocket 7 is housed inside the cage 8.

The cage 8 comprises an insertion inlet 47 of the pocket 7 in this cage 8. The insertion inlet 47 is surrounded by an edge forming an external annular shoulder 49. The cage 8 makes it possible to protect the pocket 7, in particular the flexible lower lateral part 42, when the refill 4 is distributed or transported separately from the dispensing device. However, its wall forms a cylindrical grid 48, making it possible to visualize the amplitude of the turning, and therefore of the emptying, of the pocket 7.

According to the invention, as here, this cage 8 can also serve as a sealed clamping element for the pocket 7 against the closure wall 10.

For example, as here, the necks of the pocket 7 and the cage 8 are inserted by force into the fixing groove 24. The annular rim 45 is housed against the top of said shoulder 49, and the latter is clipped into the fixing groove 24 after having passed the annular bead 25. After fixing, the annular rim 45 is held in a vice between the plugging wall 10 and said shoulder 49, the latter itself being clamped by the annular bead 25 towards the plugging wall, thus ensuring the seal between the plugging wall 10 and the inside of the pocket 7.

THE figures 6 And 7 illustrate a device 9 for dispensing a liquid to pasty product according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

• la recharge 4,
• une tête de distribution 5 montée du côté de ladite deuxième surface 12 et connectée en fluide au conduit de communication 13, le bouchon 3 étant en position d'ouverture.

This distribution device 9 includes:

• recharge 4,
• a distribution head 5 mounted on the side of said second surface 12 and connected in fluid to the communication conduit 13, the cap 3 being in the open position.

Here, the dispensing head 5, hereinafter head 5, comprises a head base 50 having an external lower surface 50', facing the stopper wall 10. The head base 50 also comprises a tube 51, which projects from this lower surface 50' and downwards and which extends between a first opening 52a, here at the bottom, and a second opening 52b, here at the top.

The tube 51 is inserted into said communication conduit 13 in sealed contact between the external wall of the tube 51 and the internal wall 14 of the communication conduit 13.

Here, the tube 51 has a length substantially equal to the distance between the free upper edge of the plug 3, in the open position, and the edge of the upper communication opening 16b, as can be seen in figure 6 . This distance also corresponds to the distance between the closed position and the open position of cap 3.

Thus, when mounting the head 5 on the plug base 2, here by screwing, the tube 51 comes opposite the plug 3, is inserted into the communication duct 13 on the side of said second surface 12, then descends into this duct, the edges of the first opening 52a of the tube 51 coming to bear against the edges of the cavity 31, which thus form a thrust surface 37. Indeed, when screwing the head 5, the tube 51 exerts a downward thrust on this thrust surface 37, until it exceeds said thrust threshold. The plug 3 is then driven downward, as the tube 51 descends into the duct 13, until the head base 50 abuts on the edge of the high communication opening 16b. In addition to a stop, this also provides an additional sealing area between the communication duct 13 and the head 5.

Thus, once the head 5 is mounted, the tube 51 is in axial support against said thrust surface 37 and in the direction of opening of the plug 3. Furthermore, the first opening 52a of the tube 51 is in fluid communication with said cavity 31. Furthermore, the cap being in the open position, the lateral openings 32 and said bottom 30 are outside the communication conduit 13. The fluid communication between the refill 4, more particularly the interior of the pocket 7 and the head 5 is thus established through the cap 3.

• un poussoir 58 monté en coulissement sur la base de tête 50,
• un soufflet 54 relié en haut au poussoir 58 et en bas à la base de tête 50 et délimitant une chambre 55 de dosage,
• un clapet bas 53 antiretour fermant une entrée de la chambre 55, cette entrée étant ici directement en communication fluidique avec la deuxième ouverture 52b du tube 51,
• un clapet haut 56 antiretour fermant une sortie de la chambre 55 et communiquant avec un orifice de distribution 57 du produit hors du dispositif de distribution 9.

In this example, head 5 comprises in a known manner:

• a pusher 58 slidably mounted on the head base 50,
• a bellows 54 connected at the top to the pusher 58 and at the bottom to the head base 50 and delimiting a metering chamber 55,
• a low non-return valve 53 closing an inlet of the chamber 55, this inlet here being in direct fluid communication with the second opening 52b of the tube 51,
• a high non-return valve 56 closing an outlet of the chamber 55 and communicating with a distribution orifice 57 of the product outside the distribution device 9.

Thus, when the pusher 58 is pushed downwards, the bellows 54 is compressed, causing pressure on the fluid contained in the metering chamber 55 (i.e. on air before priming or on product after priming), which causes the lower valve 53 to close and the upper valve 56 to open and the fluid to be expelled from the chamber 55, then from the dispensing orifice 57.

After this thrust, the pusher 58 is returned upwards by the bellows 54 causing a depression in the chamber 55, the closing of the upper valve 56 and the opening of the lower valve 53. The fluid is then sucked into the chamber 55.

The fluid is here channeled into the cone 17, passes through the lateral openings 32, into the cavity 31, then through the main opening 36 into the tube 51, up to the entrance of the chamber 55, and fills the latter.

As a variant not shown, other types of distribution head can be considered, such as piston systems.

In this example, the head 5 comprises a head skirt 59 with an internal thread screwed onto said upper skirt 21.

The dispensing device 9 may also comprise a container 6, the neck 60 of which is here screwed into the mounting groove 28.

The pocket 7 and the cage 8 are thus housed in the container 6, which forms the external shell of this distribution device 9. This shell can in particular include various inscriptions on its external surface.

Thus, when the dispensing device 9 has used up the product to be dispensed, it is possible to unscrew the head 5 and the container 6, to throw away the empty refill, while keeping the head 5 and the container 6.

Then, the head 5 is reused by screwing it onto a new refill 4, of which it has been ensured that the cap 3 is in the high position. Then, the cage 8 and the pocket 7 of the refill 4 are inserted into the container 6 and the outer skirt 29 of the capping device 1 is screwed onto the neck of the container 6. This gives a refilled dispensing device 9 ready for use.

According to the invention, as in the example illustrated in figure 7 , the container 6 may comprise a window 61 extending longitudinally on the container 6, from a height less than or equal to that of the bottom of the cage 8, to a height greater than or equal to that of the first articulation 44.

Thus, in this example, this window 61 forms an example of a portion 61 through which one can see the pocket 7, and in particular check whether its lower lateral part 42 is returned, in particular substantially completely, inside its upper lateral part 41, so that one can see its filling state.

Note that in figure 6 , the head 5 comprises a cap 62 covering the pusher.

The container 6 with its window 61 can for example be made of polypropylene (PP).

According to a variant not shown, instead of a window, the container can be made of a transparent or translucent material, in particular glass or polyethylene terephthalate (PETG or polyethylene terephthalate).

The dispensing device 9 is particularly economical since only the refill 4 is changed; the head 5 and the container 6 are reusable.

Furthermore, according to the invention, at least the refill 4 can be made of recyclable materials.

Furthermore, here, the refill 4 is very simple in design, in particular in only three parts. It is also simple to assemble and disassemble at the head 5 and at the container 6, in particular in this example where only screwing/unscrewing operations are carried out by the end user.

According to a variant not shown, the first mounting interface 20 can be made so as to be irreversible, in particular via one or more irreversible clips instead of a thread, in particular via an annular clip. In certain applications, it may indeed be advantageous to change only the container 6. This also allows the filling of the bag 7 before sealing it by the capping device 1 in the closed position, then to transport this refill to the assembly site of the dispensing device, while leaving an indicator of the integrity of the refill.

Claims (20)

1. Closure device (1) for a container of a liquid to pasty product, said closure device comprising :

   - a closure base (2) comprising a closure wall (10) having a through communication conduit (13), said closure wall being intended to close the opening (60) of a container (7) of a liquid to pasty product,

   - a stopper (3) movable in the communication conduit between a closed position and an open position,

   wherein the stopper (3) comprises a bottom (30) and a cavity (31) open on one side of the closure wall (10) and closed by said bottom (30), the cavity comprising at least one lateral opening (32), the stopper being arranged with the communication conduit (13) so that:

   - in the closed position, said bottom (30) sealingly closes the communication conduit, and

   - in the open position, the stopper is partially out of the communication conduit, said lateral opening(s) and said bottom being out of the communication conduit, so that the communication conduit is open in fluid communication through the stopper,

   the stopper (3) comprising a thrust surface (37) on the edges of the said cavity (31) capable of receiving in axial abutment the edges of a first opening of a tube (51) belonging to a dispensing device (9) in the direction of opening of the stopper (3),

   wherein the closure wall (10) comprises a cone (17) flaring out from the opening of the communication conduit on a first surface (11) of the closure wall (10), the bottom (30) as well as said lateral opening(s) (32) of the closure (3) being housed in this cone and at a distance from the walls of this cone when the closure is in the open position.
2. Closure device according to claim 1, wherein the communication conduit (13) communicates between a first surface (11) and a second surface (12) of the closure wall (10), said closure wall being intended to close the opening (40) of the container (7) of a liquid to pasty product with the first surface facing the interior of the container, so that in the closed position, said side opening(s) (32) and said bottom (30) are in the communication conduit and in the open position, said side opening(s) (32) and said bottom (30) are out of the communication conduit by being on the side of said first surface.
3. Closure device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the communication conduit (13) and/or the stopper (3) comprise at least one deformable member (33), arranged to retain the stopper in the closed position up to a certain threshold of thrust exerted on the stopper towards the open position.
4. Closure device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication conduit (13) and/or the stopper (3) comprise a member (33) for blocking the stopper in the open position.
5. Closure device (1) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said deformable member (33) and/or said blocking member (33) are arranged on and/or engage the inner wall (14) of the communication conduit (13).
6. Closure device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the closure wall (10) has a first surface (11) and a second surface (12) opposite this first surface, and comprises an irreversible fixing interface (23) which is :

   - intended to be fixed to the neck of a container (7) of a liquid to pasty product,

   - arranged on the side of said first surface (11), and

   - arranged around a zone where the communication conduit (13) opens onto this said first surface.
7. Closure device (1) according to claim 6, wherein said irreversible fixing interface (23) comprises at least one irreversible clip (25).
8. Closure device (1) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the closure base (2) comprises a first reversible or irreversible mounting interface (20) which is :

   - intended to be mounted on a dispensing head (5),

   - arranged on the side of said second surface, and

   - arranged around a zone where the communication conduit (13) opens onto this second surface (12).
9. A closure device (1) according to claim 8, wherein the closure base (2) comprises a second reversible mounting interface (27) which is

   - intended to be mounted on the neck (60) of a receptacle (6),

   - arranged on the side of said first surface (11), and

   - arranged around the mounting interface (23)
10. Closure device (1) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said first mounting interface (20) is reversible.
11. Closure device (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the one or more mounting interfaces (20, 27) are manual mounting interfaces and thus allow manual removal.
12. A refill (4) of a liquid to pasty product to be mounted on a dispensing head (5) and comprising :

    - a container (7) of a liquid to pasty product, having a neck with a container opening (40),

    - a closure device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, mounted on the neck of the container (7) in such a way that, when the stopper (3) is in the closed position, the said closure wall (10) closes the said container opening in a sealed manner.
13. A refill (4) according to claim 12, wherein the container (7) is a flexible pouch.
14. A refill (4) according to claim 12 or 13, comprising a protective cage (8) attached to the closure device (1), the container (7) being housed within said cage.
15. A refill (4) according to claim 14, wherein the container neck (7) comprises an annular rim (45) around the container opening and projecting radially, the cage (8) comprising an insertion inlet (47) for the container, the edge of the insertion inlet (49) engaging the annular rim (45) against the closure wall (10), thereby providing a seal between the latter and the container.
16. Dispensing device (9) for a liquid to pasty product comprising :

    - a refill (4) according to one of claims 12 to 15, the container (7) being mounted on the side of a first surface (11) of the closure wall (10),

    - a dispensing head (5) mounted on the other side of the closure wall (10) and fluidly connected to the communication conduit (13), the stopper (3) being in an open position,

    wherein the dispensing head (5) comprises :

    - a tube (51) inserted in said communication conduit (13), with a tight contact between the external wall of the tube and the internal wall (14) of the communication conduit, the tube being axially supported against the thrust surface (37) of said stopper (3) and in the direction of opening of this stopper, the tube having a first opening (52a) in fluid communication with the said cavity (31) and the lateral opening(s) (32),

    - a dispensing orifice (57) for the product outside the dispensing device in fluid communication with a second opening (52b) in the tube,

    wherein the first opening (52a) of the tube (51) is at one end of the tube, the edges of this first opening resting against the edges of said cavity (31), which thus form the pushing surface (37).
17. A dispensing device (9) according to claim 16, wherein the dispensing head (5) comprises a head base (50), the tube (51) projecting from an outer surface of this head base and towards the stopper (3), the tube (51) having a length substantially equal to the distance between said closed position and said open position.
18. Dispensing device (9) according to one of claims 16 to 17, comprising a receptacle (6) reversibly mounted on the closure base (2) on the side of the refill (4), the refill being arranged inside the receptacle, the receptacle (6) comprising at least one portion (61) through which the container (7) can be seen, the latter being deformable and/or at least translucent, so that its state of filling can be seen.
19. A dispensing device (9) according to claim 18, wherein the receptacle (6) is made of glass.
20. A dispensing device (9) according to claim 18, wherein the receptacle (6) is made of polymer.

Images